worke, and to garde it, and likewise to keep it. We dare not meddle with those of the Galies. And likewise it may please your maiestie to send new working tooles of yron, according to a remembrance which I haue sent to your maiestie of late, which doeth signifie our wants more at large.
Likewise it is needeful that your maiestie should send powder and match to furnish these forts.
Souldiers sent to Hauana. And likewise to send money to pay those souldiers which are newly come hither, and for that companie of souldiers which were sent from Mexico to this place.
A fort vpon an hill. For it behooueth your maiestie not to haue them as yet left, till such time as the defences about the forts bee finished, and that which is in building vpon the hill, which will be ended very shortly if you send the Negros and yron tooles.
Likewise I haue certified your maiestie, that with all speed I am making ready of the fiue Frigates, that they may cary all the treasure.
Fiue Frigats made at Hauana.
Iohn de Orimo General of the fleete.
Also Iohn de Orimo seeing
that it is of so great importance to haue them dispatched,
doeth furnish mee with some money, although
somewhat scantly, vntill such time as your
maiestie doth send him some order therefore. I
beseech you to command it to bee done; considering the great
charges and expences that we are at here, as by the accounts
your Maiestie shall more at large perceiue, what hath bene
spent. These Frigats will be made an end of without all doubt
by the moneth of Februarie: but as yet their tackling and sayles
are not here arriued: but I doe stay the comming thereof euery
day, according as the Duke of Medina and Iohn de Ibarra haue
written vnto me, that those ships which should bring the same
were ready to depart from thence.
The excellency of the great Frygates built in Cuba. All these things it behooueth your Maiestie to send in time: for I can assure your Maiestie that you shall not haue vpon the sea such good shippes as these are. For as touching the other ships of the fleete, which are in this harbour, it is not conuenient to venture the siluer in them. This counsell your Maiestie shall not take of mee, for I am a souldier, and haue but small skill in nauigation. But euery day it is tolde me openly and in secret by many of the pilots, captaines, masters, and mariners.
As touching the copper, I haue put it in practise twise more,
